With over 13 million commercial trucks registered in the country, it’s a safe bet that you’ll be sharing the road with a big rig no matter where you’re headed. The size and weight of a fully loaded semi-truck make it a dominant force on the road.
Driving alongside an 18-wheeler can be nerve-racking. That’s when you need to take extra precautions to avoid getting into a serious accident with a truck, beginning with how far you should stay away from them on the road.
The key takeaway is to stay out of the truck’s “No Zones.”
What Is a Safe “No Zone” Distance?
Because of their size and the height at which they sit above the road, every truck has “No Zones.” These are the sizable blind spots on all four sides of the rig. When you share the highway with a truck, you want to stay out of the following “No Zones:”
- Directly in front: up to 20 feet
- Directly behind: up to 200 feet
- Along both sides (especially on the right side), up to 30 feet on the left and nearly the entire length of the truck on the right
Maintaining these distances means you shouldn’t tailgate. Unless the truck driver has rear cameras, they won’t be able to see when you’re directly behind them.
In addition to maintaining a safe distance, here are some other vital tips to put into action when you encounter a semi-rig on the road:
Pass with Caution
When you need to pass a truck, the goal is to accelerate smoothly and move past it as quickly as possible. You don’t want to hang alongside the side of the truck in the dreaded “No Zone.”
The moment you pass the truck, don’t merge into the lane in front of the truck until you can see at least their entire front grill.
Be Aware of a Truck’s Wide Turn
Trucks need extra room to make turns, especially right turns. To make that turn, they might have to swing wide to the left in order to come back around. If a trucker flashes their turn signal, you don’t want to speed up to get ahead.
It’s better to slow down and let them execute the turn and then clear.
Don’t Cut Off a Truck
Even if you are 20 feet ahead of a truck, they will be able to see you, but that doesn’t mean they have enough braking distance to avoid crashing into you.
For instance, if you’re driving at 60 mph with a truck behind you and you have to come to a sudden stop, that truck will need over 500 feet of open braking distance to come to a complete stop.
Anything that’s in its path will be collided with.
Brace for Wind Gusts
If you’ve ever been on a boat, you know that a passing boat will always generate a wake of waves. The same thing happens when passing a truck, but instead of water, it is windy.
A sudden gust of wind from a speeding truck can push your car sideways. If it is bad weather, the wind is intensified. That’s why you need to brace anytime a truck comes past.
Be Extra Careful in Bad Weather
Speaking of bad weather, when there is rain, snow, or ice on the road, the hazards increase.
If you approach a truck in those conditions, you need to increase your following distance and slow down. That is especially true when navigating entrance or exit ramps with trucks.
Talk to Frost Law Firm, PC About Your Accident
If you have been involved in a truck accident, it is important to determine who was at fault.
Even if you take all the extra precautions mentioned above, a truck driver can still be negligent and cause a collision. In addition to the truck driver, the liability can be shared with the trucking company, mechanics, and cargo loaders. The attorneys at Frost Law Firm, PC understand what goes into a decisive truck accident investigation.
When you share your story, we’ll be able to determine the merits of your claim. We won’t take on any case unless we’re confident of the outcome.
Call to schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss your accident.
